So, Aryna Sabalenka will finish the 2025 season with the US Open title. She finally got her major title after two final losses and a semi-final defeat.

She also retains that world number one spot for now.

For Amanda Anisimova, it's another tough pill to swallow but the resilience shown to get back to a major final so soon after that demoralising defeat at Wimbledon is remarkable. It makes her a pretty fearsome opponent going forward.

One year apart. Same outcome.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

• Aryna Sabalenka is the third player during the Open Era to win her first four Grand Slam titles on hard courts after Naomi Osaka and Kim Clijsters.
• Sabalenka is the second player in the Open Era to claim a 100th women’s singles match wins at Grand Slams in a Grand Slam final after Iga Swiatek, who achieved the feat at Wimbledon this year.
• Sabalenka is the first player to win consecutive women’s singles titles at the US Open since Serena Williams (2013-2014).

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

It feels fitting for Sabalenka to have won today. She has been so consistent and dominant.

She will have been crushed that she didn't win in her earlier grand slam finals and certainly disappointed at Wimbledon as well.

Today she underlined her dominance. I admire her hunger and her motivation. It is a wonderful day for her - but I think Anisimova will bounce back.

That winning feeling.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, speaking on court: "It is crazy, all the lessons were worth it for this one. I'm speechless.

"Congrats Amanda on reaching back-to-back finals at the slams. I know how much it hurts to lose but trust me you will win one, you play incredible tennis.

"Congrats on what you and your team have you've achieved after your comeback. You will enjoy it more after these tough losses in finals."

On playing at the US Open: "I love it here, I love the support. I feel throughout the years we have built a kind of relationship where you give me so much support.

"My first year here when I saw I had to play back-to-back against Americans, I didn't want to play and then I did it again the next year - reaching semis and finals and felt more support.

"I'm super excited t come back next year and hope you cheer for me."

Aryna Sabalenka steps up to make her speech and receive the trophy.

She thanks her team and apologises to them for how she treated them in the previous Grand Slam finals this year. But adds "worth it, right?"

I reckon it definitely was, Aryna.

Image source, Getty Images

Amanda Anisimova speaking on court: "It has been a great summer. Losing in two finals is great but it is also super hard! I didn't fight hard enough for my dreams today. Congrats to Aryna [Sabalenka]. You are so incredible. I am in awe of what you have accomplished and what you have achieved. Congrats to you and your team."

On the crowd: "Thank you everyone for coming out and supporting me at my home slam. It has been an incredible fortnight. I love playing here and it has been a dream to play in the final of the US Open. Thank you to everyone at the US Open for making this happen.

"Thank you to my team. You guys are amazing and have helped me to get here. It has been a crazy journey.

"Thank you to my family. My sponsors and my agency - you are my family. I love all of you guys."

The ceremony gets under way and runner-up Amanda Anisimova steps up to the mic to speak.

"I didn't fight hard enough for my dreams today," says Anisimova.

Full quotes to come.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

I am so admiring of Anisimova. The Wimbledon final was humiliating and embarrassing, all of those things. It is so hard to see her sobbing.

It probably was not as bad as she thinks it was. She got into her head a little bit which prevented her using her serve.

Heartbreak for Anisimova and for the second time in two months she breaks down in tears in her chair having lost a Grand Slam final.

But I have a feeling this won't be the last time we see the American in a major final.

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Flushing Meadows

As now customary, Sabalenka scoots through the photographers' pit to a staircase leading up to her team.

The celebrations start as she hugs long-time coach Anton Dubrov, hitting partner Andrei Vasilevski and Max Mirnyi, the 10-time major doubles champion who she added to the team before the US Open.

Jason Stacy, her fitness trainer, gets a slap on his bald head - like he did when she won her previous major titles.

The number one player in the world and now back-to-back US Open champion.

And now Sabalenka is 19-0 in tie-breaks since February. I mean no one will want to face that.

So much talk around Sabalenka's mentality and whether she could keep a lid on her emotions after so much heartache in Grand Slams this year.

Very impressive from her to keep a lid on her emotion in an up and down match.

Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

What an effort from Sabakenka. She had to fight through his tournament and had about 24,000 American fans fighting against her.

Anisimova tried to fight through her nerves and emotions but Sabalenka's experience and bravery comes through for another title.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Flushing Meadows

The reaction from Sabalenka says it all.

The 27-year-old Belarusian has been the WTA Tour's most dominant player again this season, but question marks had still been raised about her emotional stability in the latter stages of Grand Slam tournaments.

She has just answered them.

The way she falls to the court, crouching on her knees and hiding her head under her arms, sums up the stress she has been feeling.

Huge credit goes to Anisimova, who has played absolutely incredibly to get here after the disappointment of Wimbledon.

But she was up against the best of the best here and didn't quite have the composure or experience to see it through.

She sits in her chair with head in hands as Sabalenka heads up to celebrate with her coaching box.

Anisimova saves the first two championship points behind her own serve.

This time she'll have to save them off Sabalenka's serve.

Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

Sabalenka has a little bit more solidity to her base game. She gets shape on her ground stokes but the power is still there.

Anisimova's coach is shaking his head - he can read the negative body language.

A flawless tie-break from Sabalenka and she brings up Championship points. And quite a few of them.